Yes, Article is worth it for shoppers who prioritize modern style and don't want to pay traditional retail prices. The brand has successfully found a middle ground, offering better quality than budget fast-furniture brands without the high-end-boutique price tag.
Their strength lies in delivering on-trend, aesthetically pleasing designs at an accessible mid-range price. However, this value comes with a trade-off: their furniture is not built for heirloom longevity, and durability can be inconsistent, especially in high-traffic situations. Here's a detailed breakdown of what you need to know before you buy.
How Is Article's Quality?
Article's quality is solid for its price point, using materials designed to balance affordability and style. While not built to last decades, the construction is generally a step above cheaper alternatives. Here’s what to look for:
- Materials: Most casegoods (like coffee tables and dressers) are made with engineered wood (MDF or particleboard) wrapped in wood veneers. Some higher-end pieces incorporate solid wood accents. This approach keeps costs down but makes them more susceptible to moisture damage and chipping compared to solid wood furniture.
- Upholstered Furniture: Sofa frames are typically made of engineered wood with some solid wood components and decent joinery (dowels, corner blocks). Cushions generally use standard-density foam (1.8 to 2.2 lb/ft³), which provides good initial comfort but is prone to sagging after 2-4 years of regular use.
- Construction & Finishing: The craftsmanship is generally clean, with well-applied veneers and sturdy steel or plated-metal hardware. They use industry-standard seating supports like sinuous springs. Think of it as well-executed mid-range construction, not premium craftsmanship.
- Common Complaints: Customer reviews often point to cushion sagging over time as a primary durability issue. Other common complaints include veneer chipping on table edges and occasional inconsistent quality control where pieces arrive with minor cosmetic flaws.
Is Article Good Value for the Price?
Article delivers good value, especially if your main goal is to get a trendy, modern look for less than you'd pay at stores like Crate & Barrel or Pottery Barn. Their direct-to-consumer model is key to their value proposition.
Price Positioning
Article sits firmly in the mid-range furniture market, priced above entry-level brands like IKEA but below more established retailers. Sofas typically range from $900 to $2,200, dining tables from $500 to $1,200, and beds from an affordable $800 to $1,800. These prices are highly competitive for original, modern designs.
What You're Paying For
With Article, you're paying primarily for design and convenience. Their direct-to-consumer model eliminates traditional retail markups, passing those savings on. However, be aware of "hidden" costs like shipping fees (often around $150-$250, depending on the item) and optional in-home assembly services, which can impact the overall value.
Where You Get Good Value
- Accent Pieces: Items like coffee tables, side tables, and lounge chairs deliver a high-end look for a moderate price, making them an excellent value.
- Less-Used Furniture: Pieces for guest rooms or formal living areas where they won't be subjected to daily wear and tear will maintain their look and structure for years.
- Higher-Tier Collections: Article's more expensive lines often use better materials (more solid wood accents, better fabrics) and offer stronger long-term value than their entry-level items.
Where You Don't Get Good Value
- High-Traffic Sofas: If you're looking for a "forever sofa" for a family that will use it daily, the standard-density foam may disappoint as it sags over time.
- Dining Tables for Messy Families: The wood veneer surfaces can be susceptible to damage from moisture, heat, and scratches, making them less ideal for heavy daily use with children.
- Budget Lines: The lowest-priced items sometimes show more noticeable signs of cost-cutting in their materials and may not hold up well even with moderate use.
Article Quality by Category
Quality at Article isn't uniform, it fluctuates depending on the product type. Here’s how their main categories stack up.
Sofas & Sectionals
Typically priced between $900-$2,200, Article sofas offer excellent style for the cost. They use kiln-dried wood frames with foam-and-fiber cushions, which are comfortable at first. The main drawback is longevity, cushions are known to lose their loft and shape after 2-4 years, so expect visible signs of wear sooner than with a higher-end brand. Verdict: Good for style-conscious buyers in low-to-medium-use settings.
Dining & Coffee Tables
Most of Article's tables are constructed with an engineered wood core and finished with a wood veneer. This gives the look of solid wood for a fraction of the cost ($500-$1,200 for dining). While beautiful, veneers are prone to chipping at the edges and cannot be sanded and refinished like solid wood. They require care to prevent scratches and water rings. Verdict: A fantastic value for look, but requires careful use.
Bedroom Furniture
Beds and dressers ($800-$1,800 for beds) follow the same construction model: primarily veneer or engineered wood. They are sturdy enough for regular use, but longevity complaints sometimes mention wobbly frames or loose joints developing over time, especially with frequent moving or rough use. Verdict: A great option for guest rooms or anyone who isn't planning on passing the furniture down.
Our Verdict: Is Article Worth It?
Article is worth it for the style-conscious shopper on a mid-range budget who understands they are buying trend-forward furniture, not a lifetime investment. Their pieces look fantastic out of the box and offer a polished, modern aesthetic for far less than premium brands.
Quality Grade: B-
Article earns a B- for quality. The materials are appropriate for the price point, and the general construction is sound. However, the known issues with cushion longevity on sofas and the more delicate nature of veneer surfaces keep it from a higher grade. There is a noticeable gap between Article and heirloom-quality brands.
Value Grade: B
The value here is a solid B. You get an immense amount of style per dollar thanks to their direct-to-consumer model. The pricing is fair for what you get, especially compared to traditional retail. The grade is tempered only by the potential need to replace high-use items like sofas sooner than you might hope, which impacts the long-term cost of ownership.
Better Alternatives to Article
If you're concerned about Article's long-term durability or are looking for something a step up in quality, consider these alternatives.
Burrow
Burrow offers highly durable, modular furniture perfect for modern life. Their sofas are specifically designed to resist stains and feature high-resilience foam cushions that hold up better than Article's. Their innovative, easy-to-assemble designs are a major draw for renters or those who move frequently.
Shop now at burrow.com
Joybird
If you want a similar mid-century modern aesthetic but with better materials and customization, Joybird is an excellent choice. They use higher-quality solid wood frames and offer a much wider array of premium fabrics, with pieces designed to last much longer. Joybird costs more, but the quality justifies the price increase for a long-term piece.
Shop now at joybird.com
West Elm
West Elm operates at a slightly higher price point but often features more substantial materials, including a greater selection of solid wood furniture. Their upholstered pieces also tend to have better cushion options and overall durability, making them a good step-up for essential items like your primary sofa or bed frame.
Shop now at westelm.com
Castlery
Castlery offers a similar direct-to-consumer model with modern and mid-century designs at comparable price points. Many shoppers find their quality and durability to be slightly more consistent, particularly in their upholstered seating and solid wood dining tables, making them a very direct and strong competitor.
Shop now at castlery.com
IKEA
If your primary concern is budget and Article's prices still seem steep, IKEA is a solid alternative. While generally a step down in an aesthetic 'wow' factor and material quality, IKEA offers a similar modern style for 40-60% less. You trade durability for extreme affordability.
Shop now at ikea.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Article sofas really last?
Expect an Article sofa to look great for about 2-3 years of average daily use. After that, you will likely notice the seat cushions beginning to sag or compress. The frame and fabric should hold up longer, but the seating comfort and appearance will diminish a bit, making it a 3-5 year piece for most households.
Is Article better quality than West Elm?
Generally, West Elm is considered a small step up in quality and price. West Elm offers more products made from solid wood and often uses more durable fabrics and construction methods, particularly in their higher-end collections. However, both brands suffer from some quality inconsistencies, so it often comes down to the specific product.
Do you have to assemble Article furniture?
Yes, most Article furniture requires some assembly. Typically, it involves simple tasks like attaching legs to a sofa or table. Instructions and hardware are included, but customer reviews on the ease of assembly are mixed. Article also offers different tiers of delivery that include room of choice placement and full assembly for an additional fee.
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